Self-balancing airship



Jan. .8, 1924. 1,480,429 S. YASULAITIS i SELF BALANCING AIRSHIP A Filed Nov. 18,. 1922 j 2 Sheets-,Sheet 1 /fv VENTO/e Patented Jarn, 1924.

siMoN YASULA'ITIS, on HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

' SELF-BALANCING AIRSHIP.

Application filed November 18, 1922'.V Serial1\o."601,7'$7)8.'l

To all 'whom imag/concern.' Y

Be it known that I, SIMON YAsULArrIs-,a citizen of theVV United States, residing at Hoboken, county of Hudson, and State of N ew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Balancing Airships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in air craft particularly Iaeroplanes having more specific referenceV to an aeroplane adapted automatically to resume its normal Hying position and to balance itself if gone into a nose diveor tail spin from which the usual engine, plane or rudder manoeuvres of the operator fail to extricate it.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide Vsuch a flying machine with a movable auxiliary plane in front; of the customary fixed planes which is automatically operated to sustain theplane and to return it into its normal, substantially hori- Zontal position while the nose or tail of the plane is tilted so as to V assume adangerous angle approximately verticalto the plane of its usual direction of flight.

Another object of the invention is-the provision of means for automatically operating the movable auxiliary front plane-to set it at an appropriate angle as soon as the tilting angle of the aeroplane towards the front Y or rear exceeds a certain degree.

A further `object of the invention is the provision of means fornorrnally holding 'the auxiliary front plane on the same level with the fixed planes so as not to-inte'rfere with Vthe normal flight .of the machine, and of `means for automatically setting the auxiliary plane at a certain angle to the plane ofY said fixed planes if the angle of deviation of the aeroplane from the horizontal plane at the front or rearjexceeds a certain degree.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a plane equipped with means for automatically locking the auxiliary plane in its inclined or operative psition. i

These and otherobjects of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds and will then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings','formin'g a material part of this disclosure Figure 1 Villustrates an aeroplane con,-

structedV according tothe present invention in a nose dive. Y

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is aview similar to-Figure 2 with .the Afront part of the body broken away to disclose the arrangement'of the'v parts'in its interior.

Figure 4 is an end view looking in the diiV rection of line 4 4 of Figure 3'.

Figure 5 is a top plan view ofthe aeroplane with one ofthe planes'p'artly'broken away. Y Y j Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of plane actuating mecha' nism, and Y i VFigure 7 is a side'view thereof.

AsV illustrated, my improved aeroplane comprises the customary elongated hollow body or housing 10,'consisting'officer-'11, vertical converging side walls,` flatroo f 12,. tail piece or'rudder 13," pitorcar `lfifand nose 15..`

As one example of the possibilities to practically execute my invention, afbi-"planeVY is illustrated in thedrawings, itl is however, to be understoodl that the same is applicableto any type of flying machine.

connected in the ordinary 'well known Inanner by a' plurality of posts A18, and the lower The two superposed planes 16 and 1'( are Y pla-ne 16 is securedV t0 thebody 10j fin any.'

welllknown suitable manner.

VThe bodyor housing of the machine' is supported, when the machine is onftheV ground, by means of the front pair of wheels 19and rear wheel 20 respectively', mounted von axles 21 and 22 carried' in brackets k23 and secured to the underside of the floor-'11. The aeroplane is driven by an engine l25 of any suitable type operating any desiredn'umi ber of propellers convenientlylocated,one of which, 26 is shown.V Y'

The device is however ing used withgliders pelled bv engines.

also capable ofbeor aeroplanes not pro- A frame consisting of a plurality ofsubstantially horizontal upper front bars 27 and inclined lower bars 28 is arranged in front of the body at a certain distance therefrom f 5,3 i ,Lieofiee wise.

Vcross bars 30. The ends of Intermediate their lengths, the upper bars are connected by means of cross-rods 30, while the lower bars arel similarly connected by means of cross-rods 31, and near their kfront endsY and meeting points with the upper rods 27, the lower rods are connected by a transverse bar or rod 82.

The front edge ot 'an auxiliary plane 83 is niovably secured bv means of a plurality of loops or links 34 to the bar 32, and cables 35 and 36 are secured'interniediate their ends to the rear edge of plane 33 as indicated at A87 and 38 respectively.

rlfhese cables are guided over rollers 39 on lower cross bars 31 and rollers 4G onV upper cables and 3) are secured to the ends o leversr37 and 38 respectively secured to the outer ends oi a transversal shaft 39 rotatably mounted flush with the upper edge of body 10 in suitable bearings 40 and 41, secured to two of posts 18. This shaft 89 carries secured thereto, with its lower end for lateral movement a lever 42, adapted to engage approximately at its upper end between the teeth of a toothed segment 48` secured with its upper end to the undersideoi'Y upper plane 17 and with itslower end to the bottom l1 ot the body 10, and laterally disposed to one ofthe inner walls of the body.

Aslia'ft 44 is transversely arranged in pit 14 and carries rotatably in approximately its center a laterally displaceable double hook 45, from the lowerhooked end of which a weight 46 is suspended, while its upper hook-shaped` end is adapted to be laterally engaged by the hook-shaped upper end oit a strong spring 47, the lower end of which is coiled around a transverse stub shaft 48 within theY pit near its front end.

An angle piece 49 is secured to the bottom 11 behind weight 46 and is arranged to normally limit the rearward swinging inotion of the suspended weight 46, but its upright anni 5() is made of elastic material or elastically secured to its toot part so as to have a rebounding effect on the weight in order to bring it to action during a tail spin, as will be hereafter more fully described,

In the modified form of my invention, the

f springl 51 is wound around a cross shaft 52 resting with its ends in the side walls of the body 10. One end oi' the 1 spring 5 is secured in one ot these side walls as at 53,

while its other end is bent, as at 54 to grip under. lever 55 secured to shaft 52 for lateral displacement, and normally engaging` the teeth of a segmental element 56.

The bent end 54 is. adapted to beengaged by the upper end of double hook 57 displaceably and rotatably secured mediate its hook-shaped ends'to a trans versal shaft 58,' the lower end oit this double hook carries a weight 59, and a yielding angular Ystop GO is secured to the bottoni of the pit or cai'.k

The device operates as follows:

During the normal flight ot the aeroplane, the auxiliary plane 33 is held by means of the taut cables 35, .36 yattached to its rear edge, against lthe underside of the -upper frame bars 27, or in a horizontal plane with the lined planes, while the lever 42 is eni gaged between the teeth of the segment 43 as best shown in Figure 3. In this position the upper hook end of doubley hook 45 engages the upper end of spring 47 which grips underneath lever 42 as illustrated in Figure 3.

It now the areoplane should nialre a nose dive exceeding a certain angle, the weight 46, suspended from hook 45, will swing tor- 2 ward, rotate hook 45 around shaft 44 and disengage it from spring 47., which operation will release lever 42 from its engage'- ment with the "teeth ofthe segment 43 to interturn shaft 39, to which the lower endI of lever 42 is secured, under the action ot cables 35 and 36 which will be slackened and the weight ot plane whichA will cause a lower- `ing of its rear edge so that-the auxiliary plane will assume-a position at an inclination to the plane of the fixed planes acting in the same manner as an altitude rudder and lift the front of the `plane back to its horizontal plane while lever 42 under the action of rebounding spring 47 is pushed baci; into engagement with the segment 43 thus locking the auxiliaryv plane in its inclined position. f

As soon as the plane assumes again its position for tlyiiief, the auxiliary plane 33V is lifted again by means ofthe cables and lever 42, to assume again a horizontal position, level with the plane of the fixed planes i and the parts are secured in this `position by engaging` hook 45 again with the end ot spring 447 which is then again resting on` top of lever 42 in engagement with the teeth ot' toothed segment 43.

A falling of the aeroplane lin a. tail spin will be successfully` prevented by therebounding means 50 in rear of weight146 which will act to throw weight 46 upward far enough to release lever 42 holding the auxiliary plane elevated as described above, and the same will also assume an inclined position tending to right the plane again.

The modified form of my inventionillill) lustrated in Figures 6 .and 7 shows kthe spring 51 wound around a transversalshaft andk secured ,withy one end to the car body, While its other end isvkept down by its engagement with the weight hook 57. 1

It will be clear that uponrelease of spring 51- by hook 57 when the weight swings. for- Ward, the bent end 54 of spring 51 will release lever-'55 from its engagement withthe teeth Vof segment 56 and will turn shaft52 which willallow the Weight of the. plane 33 and cables 36 to move the plane into an iii'-y clined positiony to the `plane ofA ythe fixed planes asV described above with respect to the preferred form of my device.

' The principlesinvolved will beV clearto lany one well versed in aviatics, and practical experiments with models have shown? the correctness of my theory as a plane heldin a nose dive or tail spinfrom which it cannot be extricated by the usual engine, plane orV rudder manoeuvres, will be automatically brought back into its normal horizontal `position upon the releaseof the auxiliary plane by the weight and saidL auxiliaryplane will assume an angle to theY xed planes which will be sufficient to rio'fhten the plane. .It will be clear that even i lever 42 should be thrown out'of engagement with the seg-VV ment when locking the auxiliary plane in :its inclined operative position, the upper frame Y the planeagainst upward tilting. 7. Changes may eviden'tly be made in the general arrangement as well vas the construction of the minor details ofv'inyinvenfy tion without departing from the scopek and spirit of my invention or the principles-in-V volved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desiieto secure by Letters Patent is--v` 1 l. An air craft comprisin'g an auxiliary plane, means for securing said plane in front of said craft, cables for normally holding said auxiliary plane in one plane with the plane of the xed planes, means for normally holding said'cables taut, means for automaticallyreleasing said holding means to allow a dropping of said auxiliaryplane into inclined position to the plane of the fixed planes for stabilizing the falling craft,

and means for locking the parts after the operation of said releasing means.-`

2. An aii` craft including supporting planes, an auxiliary plane in frontof and secured to said supporting planes, means for normally holding said auxiliary plane in its horizontal inoperative position-to act as'supporting plane, means brought to action by the fall of the craft towards the front and rear for automatically releasingsaid auxil- 'means f OIV'Y'lOCking said "plane in its inclined position. .1

3. An air craft comprising a body, lafpair of stationary planes secured to said body, Va s `frame attached toy said, planes, an auxiliary movable plane in said frame,means for nor.-

mally holding said auxiliary frame in horizontal position, a weight suspended iii said body adaptedto tiltforward and backward when said craft'goes'into anose dive and tail means for'automatically locking said auxiliary plane inits inclined position. t v

e 4. An Lair craftV including fixed superposed planes, a frame infront of Vsaid planes, an auxiliary plane Lmovably secured in said frame, a shaft,- linksV secured at theendsfof said shaft, cablesV securedintermediate their Vends to said Vauxiliary' plane and having their Y ends secured to said links, means connected with said shaft for normallyholding said cables taut to hold :said auxiliary plane in inoperative positionmeans for lockingA said cable holding means,- means 'for' automaticraft is going into a nose dive 'andtail spin, to release said cable holding means, and

means for locking the parts in'their positions L craft includingivtwo fixed super- Y Vcally releasing said locking niea'nswhen said posed' lplanes,"postsv for Vcoiilrfiecting:both

planes, a frame infront o f said planesincluding a' set of lbars fconnected at oneofV their ends vto the upperplane and a set of,V

bars connected atone'of their ends to 'said bars, an auxiliary plane connectedmov'ably lower plane, brackets for connecting the meeting oppositev ends Vof said two sets of at its front edge to said frame near the'meet- Y,

ing ends of said two sets of bars, 'a pairy of brackets secured to two vof said posts, a shaft journaled in said brackets, links securedY at the Aends of said shaftsintermediateLtheir ends, cables-secured intermediate theirends to the rear edge of said auxiliary plafneand with their ends to `the ends of said links,

means for normally holding said cables taut to hold said auxiliary plane in a'horizontal inoperative position, V'meaiisfvifor automatically releasing said cable Vholding means to sla-cken said cables for allowing a dropping of said auxiliary plane into a positioninclined 'to the planeV of said ixed planes,upon ,t

the, craft .going into' a nose divejandtail spin, and means for locking said .auxiliary kplane in its inclined operative position.

6. V In Van air craft, ,arvmovable auxiliary V' plane in front of said craft, aframe coinprising two -sets of ybars adapted torbey se- Vcured'with one of their ends to said craft andV meeting at their opposite ends, brackets j 'for connectino theineetin' ends of said two sets of bars, cross-,bars for connectingthe bars of each set, linlrs connected to one of said cross-bars for movably connecting 'the front edge of said auxiliary plane to said frame between the twoV sets .of bars, cables secured intermediate their endsfto the rear Yrotate the saine, means for connecting said lever to said shaft and allowing a lateral movement of said lever, means for normally locking said lever to hold said cables taut,

Vmeans for locking the parts in their` cable taut holding position, means for automati-` cally releasing said locking means to slaclren said cables for allowing a dropping of said auxiliary plane into inclined position to righten the falling craft, and means for locking the Vparts inl their positions' after the operation of said releasing means.

7. In an air craft comprising an auxiliary lfront plane, means for normally holding said auxiliary plane in its horizontal inoperative position, a shaft to which said Vmeans are connected, a lever on said shaft, a spring engaging said lever, means -foi' allowing a lateral displacement of .said lever, a double hook, its upper end adapted to en gage said spring, a weight suspended from the lower end of said double hook, a shaft to which said double hook is rotatably se cured, and means adapted to be engaged by said lever and to loch the same when said double hook yis in engagement with said spring and when said spr-ing has :been released by the motion of said weight towards the front by the fall of the craft to release said first named holding means.

8'. In an air craft of the class described, a movable auxiliary plane in front of said craft spaced therefrom, means for holding said plane in its normal horizontal inoperative position, and a transversal shaft in the bodyof said craft, a double hooi; rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft, a weight suspended from the lower hook of said double hook, the upper hook of the same engaging said first named means and adapted to be disengaged therefrom. when said weight is swinging forward upon the going of said craft into a nose dive for allowing said auxiliary plane to assume an inclined operating position to rigliteiri the craft, and means for locking said auxiliary plane in its inclined position. Y

9,. In an air craft of the class described a frame secured at the front of said craft spaced therefrom, an auxiliary plane, links secured to the outer front edge of said plane and to the front cross-bars of said frame for allowing a swinging of saidV plane y around said front cross-bar, the longitudinal bars 4of said frame adapted to limit theA swinging motion of said plane, rollers on said frame, .a pair of cables secured intermedi-ate their ends to the rear edge `of said plane, guide rollers on `said frame over which said cables are guided, a rotatable shaft, .stationary links secured to theends of said shaft intermediate their ends provided with eyes at their ends `to which the ends of said cables are secured, a leverrse- 'cured with its lower end to said shaftA for lateral movement and adaptedto rotate 'said shaft,ineans adapted to be engaged by said lever to lock .the sameiin a plurality of positions, a spring adapted to grip with its hook, aA transversal shaft4 to which said double hook` is rotatably secured, a fweight suspended from'the lower end of said hook, the upper end of vsaid hook adapted to engage said spring to hold said spring and lever `-in vthe position for tautening ksaid cables and lock the auxiliary plane in Vits horizontal inoperative position, said-'weight adapted to swing forward under the motion of the craft going into a nose dive to-release said hook from said spring for s'lackening y*S0 upper yfree end over said lever, a double- 'les normally holding said movable plane in one Y level with the plane of the-upper of said,

stationary planes, a pair of cables, links to the free ends of which the ends of said cables are secured, a sha-ft for said links intermediate their ends, a lever secured to-r said shaft for lateral displacement, a toothed segment secured to said. body adapted to be engaged bysaid lever, a spring secured with its lower end to the bottom of said body and engaging with its upper bent end the lower part of said lever, a transversal shaft in said body and a double hook rotatablyvr and slidably held intermediate its ends on said transversal shaft,r a weight suspended from the lower end of said double hook for normally holding the bentfree end of said spring in' enga-gement vwith lthe upperend of said double hook and the Vlever in engagement with the teeth of said segment for holding` said cables taut, but allowing a release of the parts upon the swinging forto lower said auxiliaryplane into inclined position and a returning of said lever into engagement with said segment for locking said auxiliary plane in its inclined position and rebounding means for causing the weight to perform the Vfunctions of releasing said lever and reengaging the same with said segment when said craft goes into a tail spin.

11. In an aeroplane, a body having a pit, a transversal shaft in said pit, a double hook loosely7 mounted Yintermediate itsl ends on said transversal shaft, a weight secured' to the lower end of sa-id doublehook, an auxiliary plane, cables for holding said plane normally in a substantial horizontal positiom'means for tautening said cables allowing a locking of the same in taut position by the engagement of the upper end ol said double hook Vwith said tautening means, for allowing a. release of said tautening means upon the tiltingof the craft into A a nose dive to allow said auxiliary planeV to assume an inclined position tending to righten the aeroplane, means'for locking the auxiliary plane in this position, and rebounding means or allowing said weight to execute the identical unctions upon the aeroplane executing a tail spin.

12. In an airship, an auxiliary plane,

Y means for holding said auxiliary plane normally in a substantial horizontal position, means for automatically guiding said auxiliary plane into van inclined nose supporting position when the ship goes into a nose dive, means for locking saidl auxiliary plane in said latter position, and means'for allowing an operation of said guiding means when said ship. goes into a tail spin.

13. In anairship a pendulum weight, means automatically operated by said pendulum weight to stabilize the nose of said airship in a -nose dive and returning the ship intol its normal .iying position, means also operated by said weight to lock said stabilizing means during the stabilizing'op.- eration, and means for rebounding said weight to perform identical-functions when said ship goes into a tail spin.`

, 14. In an airship' a pendulum weight, means for stabilizing said ship to guide it out of a nose dive automatically operated by said weight, and means for limiting the rearward swinging of said weight, said last named means adapted tol rebound said [weight for operating said stabilizing meansy to guide said ship out of a`tail spin.v

auxiliary plane into an inclined position Y 'for stabilizing the V'ship when executing a nose dive, a spring controlled lockingV lever allowing the release of said parts and adapted to lock the same again after said release for locking said auxiliary plane in its position during the stabilizng op- 1 inclined eration. Y i

16. In an aeroplane, ya plurality of' sta- *75' tiona-ry planes, posts connectingl each pair vof said planes, a triangular frame secured to; a pair offsaid planes in 'ront ofthe i same, brackets forming the apex ofY said frame, a cross-bar near said brackets` an auxiliary plane within said VJframe, links formovably connecting the louter edge of,

said auxiliary plane to said cross-bar,means for normallyrfholding said auxiliary plane in horizontal position within said iframe,l a pendulum weight suspended inthe body of said aeroplane for automatically releasing --1 said holding means when Vsaid aeroplaneis tilted into a dangerous nose dive and for operating said means to lock' the auxiliary plane in its released inclined position stabil..

izing the aeroplane, and a rebounding means for bringing said weight to action for releas-V ing saidv stabilizing means tov stabilize'the aeroplane when tilted into a tail spin. a

Y Intestimony ,whereof vI have aixed my signature.` SIMONA YASULAITIS.

eaY

55 15. In an airship, a triangular frame, xed planes and posts connecting the same forming the base of said frame, cross-barsY in said frame, a movable auxiliaryplane *in* 2 

